Reversible envelop.



Patented Aug. 29, I899.

N. P. PACKARD.

' REVERSIBLE ENVELOP.

(Application med Jim. 4, 1899.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOH WITNESS v JQWT M A TTORNEKS velops, of which the following is a specifica- .the respective edges of the rectangular sheet UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, V

NELLIE PHELPS PACKARD, OF OENTRALIA, \VASHINGTON.

REVERSIBLE ENVELOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,939, dated August 29, 1899.

Application filed January 4, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELLIE PHELPS PACK- ARD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Centralia, county of Lewis, and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Ention, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, forminga part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to improvements in reversible envelops, the object thereof being to supply an article of this character adapted for reuse after it has once passed through the mails.

The device is specially applicable for containing samples of merchandise, and it is so constructed that the receiver may return the goods to the sender in the original package, and the refolding thereof obscures all original markings and presents a perfectly clean exterior surface for containing new directions, stamp, &c.

The invention will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically set forth in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawin gs,formin g part of this specification, Figure l is a plan view of my improved envelop, showing the same in blank ready for folding. Figure 2 is a similar view showing the device partially folded; and Fig. 3 is a rear view of the envelop, showin g the same folded ready for transportation.

In the practice of myinvention I employ a single sheet of stout paper of a character adapted to be folded and refolded without injuring the fibers thereof. This said sheet comprises a preferably rectangular portion A, having flaps B, O, D, and E formed integrally therewith,the said flaps extending from A. The flap B is supplied with a tongue 1), formed integrally therewith and within a recess b, and the opposite fiap D is provided with an integrally-formed strap d, adapted for engagement with the tongue I) when the envelop is folded for transportation. The oppositely-located flaps O and E are similarly constructed, the flap 0 being supplied with a tongue 0, formed within the recess a, and the Serial No. 701,172. (No model.)

flap E having an integrally-formed strap 6 for engagement with the tongue 0.

In the operation and use of the device an article to be transported is placed upon the inner surface of the rectangular sheet A, as illustrated by dotted lines 1, Fig.1 of the drawings. The flaps E and C are then overlapped and connected to each other by means of the tongue 0 and strap 6, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The oppositely-located flaps Band D are then overlapped and similarly connected by means of the tongue I) and the strap d. The device is now ready for transportation, and the reversed or exterior side of the sheet A can be addressed and stamped in the customary manner.

When the package reaches its destination, it is a very simple matter for the, receiver thereof to open the envelop and remove its contents, and then by reversing the folds and folding the several flaps on the reverse side or over the addressed portion the device can be refolded in such a manner as to provide a substantially new envelop having a clean exterior ready to receive a new address, and, if desirable, the sender can place his address upon the inner surface of the rectangular sheet A before first folding the same.

In order to strengthen the tongues 19 and c and also to provide alocking means therefor, I preferably bind them with a sheet-metal binding 2, so that they may be bent back and retained in a bent position, as illustrated by dotted lines 3, Fig. 3 of the drawings; but it is obvious that they may be lined with acoating of flexible sheet metal instead of being bound, and the bending in this case will also look the envelop and prevent the accidental removal of its contents.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a reversible envelop, the combination of a rectangular or other shaped sheet, and integrally-formed square-cornered flaps extending from its four edges, these flaps being supplied with oppositely-located tongues and straps for engagement with each other when the envelop is folded, said tongues being reinforced, and having parallel edges, so that they may be bent upon themselves in variable relation with the said straps, to increase or decrease the capacity of the envelop, whereby bulky packages may be contained therein, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a reversible envelop, the combination of a-rectangular or other shaped sheet, and integrally-formed square-cornered flaps extending from its four edges, the flaps being supplied With oppositely-located tongues and straps for engagement with each other when the envelop is folded, said tongues being located within recesses of their respective flaps and being reinforced by malleable sheetmetal binding and having parallel edges, so 

